Takin’ to the Streets: The Long Tradition of Revolutionary Youth Resistance (ASPE)

Black August calls on us to study the history of Black liberation, deepen our political consciousness, and learn from the experiences of political prisoners and revolutionary movements. This session examines how young people built and led organizations such as the Revolutionary Action Movement, SNCC, the Black Panther Party, and the Young Lords, while exploring the importance of intergenerational mentorship from leaders like Ella Baker, Malcolm X, and Queen Mother Moore in developing new generations of organizers. Participants will also examine why youth-led movements have consistently been met with surveillance, incarceration, and political repression, and discuss what these lessons mean for organizing young people to build community control and people’s power in Southeast DC today.